1. Welcome and apologies for absence – Andy welcomed everyone to the meeting, thanked Gail for leading the walk. Thankfully the weather was good. Apologies were received from Sue & Boyd Fisher, Ian and Elaine Dunford and Mark Franklin.
2. Outstanding items from previous Minutes – clarification re footpath checking was done and a card of appreciation was sent to David Reed.
3. Minutes of previous AGM were approved and signed by chairperson. 4. Reports Chairperson - Andy Gardiner We have had a successful year with an increasing number of new local members, others trying out the walks for the first time and visiting Ramblers from other areas. We successfully relaunched the Milton Keynes Ramblers Facebook page with regular photos uploaded from recent walks. We would like to develop the page more and we are therefore looking for someone to take on this role, in conjunction with Jan who will continue to submit photos after each walk. It has been a busy year with the national organisation updating its website, introducing Walks Manager for recording walks from all around the country plus re-organising how new walk leaders are welcomed into their role. This has also created work for committee members in working out the new systems. Thank you to committee members and also to our webmaster, Len, who helps us so much with the technical side of things. We are now in a good position with smooth recording of walks nationally and on our own local website. 1 Ramblers MK & District AGM Minutes 2024 I would also like to thank the walk leaders who put on the walks this year. Without their dedication we wouldn't have a regular programme of walks. We successfully assisted one of our younger members to complete the walk leaders’ course and would be happy to assist others to complete this course. Please contact one of the committee members if you would like some assistance in becoming a walks leader. We would also like to encourage newer members to join the committee in non executive roles to help provide other activities i.e. weekends away and social events. We are sorry that Jan Kendall is leaving the role of Secretary for the group and I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for a job well done. Ruth Kremer has kindly volunteered to replace her. She will be proposed today along with the remaining committee members who remain willing to be re-elected. I would also like to thank the other committee members for their work and support this year. Thank you to those members attending today’s AGM and those who attended the walks throughout the year. We look forward to continuing success next year. Treasurer - Philip Turnbull – report added as an appendix.
Trevor Jones, Area Chairperson, provided information on how other groups allocate monies for equipment like gates. Philip will look into this. Philip added that he has Philip suggestions from the Council as to what current needs are regarding gates etc.
Footpath Secretary - Ian Dunford (in his absence this was read by Jan)
First, apologies for not being there for AGM - I am away at a family wedding.
I would like to thank all the path checkers who once again have kept an eye on our local paths. The current checkers are listed at the end.
Reminder of Vacant Parishes:
Astwood & Hardmead
Chicheley
Hanslope
Olney
Ravenstone
Sherington
Warrington
If anyone would like to volunteer or would like more information please contact me.
A special mention to Philip who took on the additional task of checking Hanslope this year.
Annual summaries have been received for some of the parishes this year, these highlight areas of concern to the Ramblers via the Area. I will be preparing and submitting this report.
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Whilst path checkers undertake a specific annual check of a parish it is important that all members report problems as they find them during the year. These can be reported to the council via the report IT system, direct to MKCC RoW Dept. I am happy to be contacted to assist. Problems can occur in neighbouring council areas, and we have some links on the website, otherwise let me know and I will help to report.
I am happy to continue in this role, and hopefully will be able to join more walks in the coming 12 months, family commitments allowing.
Current parish path checkers.
Abbey Hill Jacqui Flint
Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Brian Graves
Bow Brickhill Ian Dunford
Bradwell Peter Hurst
Broughton & Milton Keynes Linda Marsh
Calverton Graham Benjamin
Campbell Park Tim Hunt
Castlethorpe Jim Monaghan
Central Milton Keynes Tim Hunt
Clifton Reynes & Newton Blossonville Steve Thomason
Cold Brayfield Joy Dentith / Alan Burnett
Emberton Kit Eaton
Fairfields Mike LeRoy
Gayhurst Pat Fitzsimons
Great Linford Gail Dunn
Haversham cum Little Linford Philip Turnbull
Kents Hill, Monkston & Brinklow Linda Marsh
Lathbury Pat Fitzsimons
Lavendon Joy Dentith / Alan Burnett
Little Brickhill Ian Dunford
Loughton Andrew Gardiner
Moulsoe Gail Dunn
New Bradwell Jacqui Flint
Newport Pagnell Kit Eaton
North Crawley Jim Monaghan
Old Woughton Linda Marsh
Shenley Brook End Peter Hurst
Shenley Church End Peter Hurst
Simpson & Ashland Linda Marsh
Stantonbury Tracey Giddings
Stoke Goldington Hilary Riley
Stony Stratford Martina Delany
Tyringham & Filgrave Kit Eaton 3 Ramblers MK & District AGM Minutes 2024 Walton Linda Marsh Wavendon Susan Lloyd West Bletchley Merrian Lancaster Weston Underwood Jane Ashby Whitehouse Mike LeRoy Woburn Sands Ian Dunford Wolverton & Greenleys Peter Hurst Woughton Community Linda Marsh Trevor Jones suggested taking photos of any issues and using the app 3words to locate. It was agreed to discuss with Ian and the path checkers as to how easy it is to report issues to the council. To be put on agenda of next committee meeting. Jan/Andy Programme Secretary - Penny Garfirth There have been 52 walks in total since January 1st this year - this includes 11 evening walks. There has been an improvement in the amount of walks put on the programme since the previous year however there are still gaps some weekends. The walks we have had have been varied with some lovely locations and thank you to all walk leaders who have contributed this year especially some of our more prolific contributors without whom the programme would be very much depleted. Acknowledgement please to Sue and Boyd Fisher.
We had a walk on Christmas Day last year which proved a success with 16 people attending. We also had the well established New Years Day walk round Woburn past the elephants which is a very enjoyable occasion. We also had a joint walk with Bucks Vision in the summer.
Our walks are now successfully and routinely being put on to the National Ramblers**’** site which has attracted new walkers and regularly walkers from other groups.
We continue to monitor attendance numbers on walks to see if there is any common preference for example for shorter walks to longer ones or Saturday walks to Sundays.
Numbers have been anything from 5 to 29 and on average numbers are in the teens. Our evening walks in the summer were not well attended and it is unlikely we will be offering these next summer.
I would like to request if people could consider adding a walk to the programme to help plug some of the gaps by our regular leaders. I know some other walking groups insist everyone leads a walk - we are not as regimented as this but would prefer if everyone could contribute a little annually to alleviate the pressures on others. I appreciate not everyone is comfortable to lead a walk but there are also some very confident walkers who attend who would make great walk leaders.
Thank you to new walk leaders Ian and Mark who have contributed to the programme.
I want to end with saying again a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to the walks programme this year - it is very much appreciated and without you there would be no group.
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membership numbers for the future. It has been good to be able to join the group on a couple of walks since the end of October and to reacquaint myself with both new and existing members and hope to be able to do more walks as my circumstances have changed. Many thanks for your support.
Peter added to his report that he considered the rise in membership costs were prohibitive.
Trevor acknowledged that inactive members support the national work of campaigning and like to read the newsletter - if the newsletter becomes digital there may be a decrease in membership.
The Ramblers Bucks, Milton Keynes & W Middlesex Area covers the 5 Bucks groups and Hillingdon with the Affiliated and Flexi-Groups, which includes MKHike, and independent members. There are 3 meetings a year and an AGM. The last was in July and the next on Tuesday 19th.
The Area provides a link with the Ramblers General Council, agrees funding for local groups, collects information on membership, activities and footpath problems and now runs a website which welcomes local news.
The Chair remains interested in meeting Group Officers and joining walks. He is contact for Safeguarding issues. Problems with cattle on group walks should be reported to the local Highway Authority.
The Secretary and Treasurer roles have been filled by the same person for some time but he is now resigning as Acting Secretary and a replacement is urgently needed.
Membership shows small increases for most groups. The Access Officer and RIBBLE Path maintenance team only cover Bucks.
The Area Footpath Secretary collects Pathcheck report details annually and information on resolving problems. She is also contacted by local authorities for advice when planning applications affect rights-of-way and refers to local footpath checkers.
Progress on HS2 and E-W rail affecting access is a standing item. SE Walker is to be online but group reports requested as usual.
Reports from Group reps mainly covered details of walk programmes. I reported that shorter walks were less popular than before - which now seems to have changed.
Trevor Jones added that Area would like feedback on ‘what do you want from Area? Jan/Andy What do you want it to do?’ This can be added to our committee agenda.
Andy reaffirmed our need to promote our walks through Facebook.
5. Appointment of independent examiner – Boyd Fisher has agreed to continue in this role.
6.Election of committee 6 Ramblers MK & District AGM Minutes 2024
